Anna had reentered her office after the encounter with Phillips. She felt disoriented and off balance. She closed the door and moved around the desk to sit down in her chair. She felt dirty and rubbed her right hand on her pants and then stared at it.

"Terrible things," he had said. "For you," he had said. That horrible man must have been one of the leaders of the program that had forced Robert to return to the WSB after the ship explosion in Venezuela. She remembered Robert telling her, telling Robin, that he hadn't had a choice about coming back to them. They had dismissed it, mostly, as an excuse to return to the life of a spy, but it had always seemed like there was more there. She had tried to talk to him more about that time after they had grown closer again and she was more forgiving, but by then he just said it didn't really matter. He didn't want to talk about it.

She stared at her hands. A shiver ran up her spine. "Terrible things," she whispered to herself as she got up and went back out to the squad room.

Her officers had brought John Cates up from the cells and put him in the interrogation room while the WSB agents were completing their paperwork. One of them was on his phone arranging refrigerated transport for Wilson's body. Anna looked across the room and through the window at Cates. He was sitting at the table with his head in his hands. She suddenly wondered what the Bureau, or Phillips, would do with him, and she felt strangely afraid for him.

Anna crossed the room and let herself into interrogation. Cates looked up as she shut the door and leaned back against it.

"So the WSB is taking me back to Washington?" he asked.

She nodded.

"And Corinthos gets to go on ruining peoples lives and breaking the law whenever it suits him," he said in a disgusted tone.

"Well," she said, "The WSB doesn't like agents who make their own rules. I think you are in some pretty hot water."

"I've been in hot water before. They'll give me some crap assignments and make it impossible to advance my career for a while. I'll survive," he said in a tired tone.

"That's good," she said, and she found herself meaning it. She saw his judgement was clouded by his hatred for Sonny, but she thought he was probably a good agent when he could remain detatched.

"I don't envy you having to deal with that Phillips guy though," she said to him.

Cates' head shot up at the mention of the name and he looked at Anna with an expression of pure panic.

"Phillips? He's here?" he asked, his voice an octave higher, his eyes wide.

Anna was taken aback. What kind of a monster?…

"He's in charge of the agents here to transport you," she said.

"I'm fucked," Cate's muttered under his breath.

"What is it about this guy?" Anna asked. "I thought Robert was going to kill him."

"Robert saw him? Holy shit. Anna, Phillips was.."

They were interrupted by one of the WSB agents opening the door to the room.

"Cates, let's go."

John got up and came around the table to the door. As the agent put manacles on Cates, Anna spoke.

"Tell Mr. Phillips I will watch for the Paperwork about Mr. Morgan."

The man gave her a crooked grin. "You can tell him yourself. He's staying here for a bit. Enjoy."

Anna felt a sudden panic and Cates mirrored her expression back to her as the agent guided him out the door.

This was not good.

xxx

Jason had left Bobbie's and made his way toward the brownstone. He felt a surge of pride when he spotted Jake outside with his skateboard. He watched from a distance as the boy practiced kick flips. He watched his son try and try and then pause, standing on his board, studying a video on his phone. There was an intensity and focus there that he hadn't seen in him when he was younger. The time went so fast.

Jason was struggling with his desire to step back into this life. It was a life he had fought to protect. It was a life he wanted back, but he wasn't sure he was going to be allowed to make that step. He wasn't sure that his handlers at the Bureau would let him.

He was lost in thought, and nearly jumped out of his skin, when Robert spoke up at his side.

"They change so much, so quickly."

Jason nodded regaining his composure. "He's grown a lot."

They both watched in silence as Jake failed to land the trick another half dozen times.

"Phillips is here. He came with some men to pick up Cates and the body. I saw him at the station."

Muscles bulged along Jason's jawline as he clench his teeth, swallowing the profanities another man might have loosed.

"He should be gone later today, just be on guard," Robert continued.

"That man is twisted," said Jason, his eyes on Jake.

"Granted," said Robert, "but he's also powerful."

Jason nodded.

He turned to study Robert. "You okay?"

"I will be when he's out of here. I was surprised how easily he could push my buttons."

"Yeah, I don't need to see him again. Ever."

Robert put his hand on the younger man's shoulder and looked past him at the boy.

"Did you pick up a phone?"

"Yeah," Jason said sliding the phone from his pocket.

Robert produced his phone and unlocked it.

"Give me your number, and take mine. I'll have Anna let me know when Phillips has left."

Jason nodded again. "What did Anna think of him?"

"I didn't stick around to ask her."

Robert took his phone back from Jason.

"Be careful. Watch your back. Might be smart to lay low at the apartment."

"Thanks Robert."

Jason watched as Robert walked away before returning his attention to Jake.